I quite like this opinion piece written by the former Hampshire Captain (and more recently, cricket commentator) Mark Nicholas...

A not uncommon view is that England's cricketers had it coming. We know which of the team's more colourful characters encouraged that view - and a cocksure style is the sum of it. But the very certainty of cocksure was one of the reasons for their success. This is no different from the Australian side that walked the walk for so long. Shane Warne could intimidate with a look; Matthew Hayden with a word; Ricky Ponting with a narrow eye; Glenn McGrath with a sneer, and when the lot of them were on top - as one, like a pack of hyenas - they became excruciating to play against. Call this bullying and you wouldn't be far wrong. And that is what the best teams do: they bully the game out of anyone who shows the slightest sign of weakness against them.

Just as I will be gloating when the Commonwealth games start,....before you come up with excuses just have a look at the medal tallies for the last 5 games,that is 20 years,..on 2nd thoughts dont look at them it will break your hearts (for those of you that have one) this will be a true test between Australia & England without the top countries,ie China,USA,and Russia and it's Colonies

Yes, the Commonwealth Games is a better test than the Olympics, like the world really cares

Most people around the world barely remember the C'wealth games the week after they've finished and yet who will ever forget the dominance of the Brits in the cycling in 2012 or that 'golden hour' on the track, memories that will live on forever

I think where the Commonwealth Games stand in the eyes of the world is summed up by the list of cities that bid for the 2018 Games. There were only TWO - Gold Coast in Oz and Hambantota in Sri Lanka.....that says it all

By the way, did you watch the hockey World League play-off match yesterday, in case you missed it England beat Australia